Sacramento County Head Start center suffers second fire in two months, arson suspected

A second fire in less than two months has caused tens of thousands of dollars in damages to the Hillsdale Head Start Center in Sacramento County, destroying play and learning spaces for dozens of children, with Sacramento Metro Fire investigating the incidents as possible arson.Sacramento Metro Fire is investigating the latest fire, which broke out early Tuesday morning, as possible arson. Officials said they do not yet have suspect information, but noted there has been a series of fires in the area over the past several months that are also being investigated as possibly arson-related.For the children at Hillsdale Head Start, staff said the loss is already being felt.“Imagine 80, 90 kids just on the two swings,” Head Start spokesperson Valexia Luna Olive said.Luna Olive said the visible damage tells only part of the story.“Think about the emotional toll that it’s taking on the children,” she said.According to staff, the fire destroyed a portion of the children’s outdoor play area. “Our play structure, you see, our toys here are scorched. This whole area, our garden has a significant amount that has been damaged,” Luna Olive said.She said the loss has been especially difficult for children who helped build and care for parts of the space.“They can’t compute why all their hard work has gone up into flames,” Luna Olive said.The latest fire is not the first to affect the center. Luna Olive said an earlier fire on May 11 damaged fencing and other parts of the property.“As you can see in this corner to the left, there’s a fence here. All the fence that you see is new because it was previously burnt on May 11,” she said.That earlier fire also damaged a play structure so badly that it has remained unsafe to use, staff said.Asked about the cost of replacing the equipment, Luna Olive said, “I can’t even quantify how much that costs. But it’s a significant amount for a new play structure.”Staff said the repeated fires have set the center back by thousands of dollars, but relocating is not a realistic option because of the families the center serves.“It would be like, ‘Oh, that’s an easy fix to move.’ But then what about the families who live here and who are relying on these services?” Luna Olive said. “We are here intentionally because it’s close to the community. And this is where parents have access to drop their children off and pick them up.”As the investigation continues, the center is asking the community for help. Staff said they are accepting donations at the Hillsdale location, including backpacks, bikes, tricycles, and school supplies.“If anybody has supplies that they want to drop off, we’re here, Hillsdale location; you can come and drop it off,” Luna Olive said.Sacramento Metro Fire said anyone with information about the fires is asked to contact the agency.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A second fire in less than two months has caused tens of thousands of dollars in damages to the Hillsdale Head Start Center in Sacramento County, destroying play and learning spaces for dozens of children, with Sacramento Metro Fire investigating the incidents as possible arson.

Sacramento Metro Fire is investigating the latest fire, which broke out early Tuesday morning, as possible arson. Officials said they do not yet have suspect information, but noted there has been a series of fires in the area over the past several months that are also being investigated as possibly arson-related.

For the children at Hillsdale Head Start, staff said the loss is already being felt.

“Imagine 80, 90 kids just on the two swings,” Head Start spokesperson Valexia Luna Olive said.

Luna Olive said the visible damage tells only part of the story.

“Think about the emotional toll that it’s taking on the children,” she said.

According to staff, the fire destroyed a portion of the children’s outdoor play area.

“Our play structure, you see, our toys here are scorched. This whole area, our garden has a significant amount that has been damaged,” Luna Olive said.

She said the loss has been especially difficult for children who helped build and care for parts of the space.

“They can’t compute why all their hard work has gone up into flames,” Luna Olive said.

The latest fire is not the first to affect the center. Luna Olive said an earlier fire on May 11 damaged fencing and other parts of the property.

“As you can see in this corner to the left, there’s a fence here. All the fence that you see is new because it was previously burnt on May 11,” she said.

That earlier fire also damaged a play structure so badly that it has remained unsafe to use, staff said.

Asked about the cost of replacing the equipment, Luna Olive said, “I can’t even quantify how much that costs. But it’s a significant amount for a new play structure.”

Staff said the repeated fires have set the center back by thousands of dollars, but relocating is not a realistic option because of the families the center serves.

“It would be like, ‘Oh, that’s an easy fix to move.’ But then what about the families who live here and who are relying on these services?” Luna Olive said. “We are here intentionally because it’s close to the community. And this is where parents have access to drop their children off and pick them up.”

As the investigation continues, the center is asking the community for help. Staff said they are accepting donations at the Hillsdale location, including backpacks, bikes, tricycles, and school supplies.

“If anybody has supplies that they want to drop off, we’re here, Hillsdale location; you can come and drop it off,” Luna Olive said.

Sacramento Metro Fire said anyone with information about the fires is asked to contact the agency.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel